Flashlight having a switch to convert the flashlight into a testing device



15, 1950 J. G. SCHNEIDER 2,519,294

FLASHLIGHT HAVING A SWITCH TO CONVERT THE FLASHLIGHT INTO A TESTING DEVICE Filed March 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l f3 M mum I6 36 W a INVENTOR.

g- 1950 J. G. SCHNEIDER 2,519,294

FLASHLIGHT HAVING A SWITCH To CONVERT THE FLASHLIGHT INTO A TESTING DEVICE Filed March 17, 1948 22 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 15, g 1950 FLASHLIGHT HAVING A SWITCH TO CON- VERT THE FLASHLIGHT INTO A TESTING DEVICE John G. Schneider, Toledo, Ohio Application March 17, 1948, Serial No. 15,329

3 Claims.

This invention relates to flashlights.

An object of this invention is to provide a flashlight retainin its normal appearance and utilities but having incorporated therein the additional feature of adapting the flashlight as an instrument for testing electrical devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight with a single switch which may be actuated to operate the flashlight in the usual manner and additionally convert the flashlight into a testing device.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combinations of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a flashlight embody ing the invention herein;

Fig. 2 is a distributed view of the parts incorporated in the switch mechanism for said flashlight;

Fig. 3 is a view on the line IIIIII, Fig. 1 with the switch in off position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the switch in "blinker or flashing position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the switch in steady light position; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the switch in test position.

The flashlight is shown herein comprising a tubular member 10 housing one or more batteries 12 as the energy source for the device. Removable cap 14 normally closes one end of said housing member ID and spring l6 between said cap and one pole of the energy source places the metallic member I0 in series therewith.

Mounted in the opposite end of the housing from the cap is a reflector l8 insulated from the housing in usual flashlight practice. This reflector mounts lamp 20 with the threaded portion 22 of its base in electrical contact therewith and its base tip 24 or other contact in electrical communication with the other pole of the energy source.

Conductor bar 26 in contact with the reflector extends along the interior of the housing and is insulated therefrom by insulation strip 28. The

bar 26 carries extension 30, remote from the reflector, protruding through the housing to provide a first switch terminal 32 exterior of said member 10. The member ID is provided with outwardly extending offset 34 forming the second switch terminal, It is apparent any electrical connection between the two switch terminals completes the circuit causing the lamp to burn.

A manually operable switch is provided having a contact strip shiftable relative to said terminals into four distinct positions, "01 2, flash or blinker, steady light and test.

The switch includes a metallic base plate 36 having an escutcheon 38 thereon providing a switch housing with a slide-way 39 therein. This structure is mounted on the housing ill by rivets 40 or the like and insulated by enlarged openings 42 in the housin through which the fastening devices extend and by an insulation pad 44 between the plate 33 and member lfl coacting with the insulation strip 28.

Slide 46 is shiftable back and forth along the slide-way 39 by pressure against slide carried embossing 48. This movement is guided by slot 50 in the escutcheon.

An arch-shaped contact strip is disposed within the switch housing having its central portion 52 nested within the embossing 48 so that movement of the slide 46 shifts this strip. Downwardly and outwardly diverging contact arms 54, 56, extend from the portion 52 normally engaging plate 36. This contact strip is preferably of spring bronze and serves to maintain assembly of the slide 46 with the escutcheon, V

In ofi position (Fig. 3), the contact strip bridges the terminal 32, with the arms 54, 55, on the plate 36, the arm 56 disposed between the terminals 32, 34.

The first shifted or blinker position (Fig. 4) brings the arm 56 into contact with the terminal 34 and the arm 54 is in such close proximity to terminal 32 that a slight depression of the embossing 48 closes the contact therebetween. This lights the lamp 20 and release of the embossing allows the spring contact to open the circuit thereby extinguishing the light.

The second shifted position (Fig. 5) causes the rounded terminal of the arm 56 to move into seat 58 on the terminal 34 and the arm 54 to ride onto terminal 32. The light circuit is held closed and the lamp 20 burns steadily until the switch is manually shifted. The seat 58 firmly holds the parts in circuit closed position,

The third shifted position (Fig. 6) causes the contact strip to bridge the terminal 34 with the arm 56 contacting plate 36 and the arm 54 still riding on terminal 32. Now the switch housing is in series with the lamp.

Any electrical connection between the switch housing and member II] will complete the circuit. This permits the flashlight to be used as a testing device. A lead 60 from a device 62 to be tested. may be held against the escutcheon or thrust into an aperture 64 along the sides thereof or a clamp may engage the grooved sides 66. The second lead 68 from the device to be tested may then be placed in contact any place on the flashlight body. If the circuit is closed, the lamp 20 will burn.

Openings 70, 12 through the parts [9, 44, 36, are of such size that the terminals extending therethrough are not shorted and unless there is contact between terminals 32, 34, or between terminal 32 and the plate 36 in test position, the lamp will not burn.

It is tobe understood that the above detailed description. of the: present invention is. intended to disclose-an embodiment thereof'to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed. as limited in its application to the details of construction and. arrangement of parts illustrated in the. accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in. various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating'to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it isnot intended to: limit the scope of the following claims beyond the require ments of the prior art.

What isclaimed" and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a flashlight of the class described, a pair of' extensions fromthe body of. said flashlightas terminals of the electric circuitfor said flashlight, one of said terminals being an offset of the flashlight body, the other'extending from within said body and insulated therefrom, a switch for said flashlight including a conductor plate through which said. terminals extend, means insulating said plate from said. body and said terminals, an escutcheon mounted on said plate and providing a slide-waytherebetween, and contact strip shif-- able along said slide-way, said strip at one end of said slide-way being clearof' any contact with the terminalsand as shiftable toward the opposite end in one position engages both terminals and in another position engages one of said terminals and said plate; 4

2. In a flashlight, a metallic tubular casing, said casing having an outwardly extending offset providing a first terminal, said casing provided with an opening therethrough adjacent said offset, a second terminal extending through said opening, a battery in said casing having one pole in electrical connection with said casing, alead connecting said second terminal to the'other pole of said battery, an insulation padon the casing having a pair of openings therethrough, said pad suropposite end in rounding said first and second terminals extending through said openings, a metallic plate mounted on said pad electricall insulated from the casing thereby and having a pair of openings therethrough through which said first and second terminals extend, an escutcheon mounted on said plate housing said terminals and providing a slideway therein, and a strip contact/of arch form having its termini contacting said plate and arched over the second terminal into said slideway as a guide therefor, said strip shiftable along said slideway and. when positioned adjacent one end thereof is'in the arched position over said second terminal with: its termini engaging said plate and spaced from the first terminal, said contact shiftable to be arched over said second terminal and have one of its termini engage the first terminal, said contact further shiftable to have one of its termini engage the second terminal and thereby be lifted clear from the plate while its other terminus still engages the first terminal, said contact being. further shiftable to be positioned adjacent the other end of the slideway to .be' arched over the first terminal with one of its termini still engaging the second terminal and the other terminus engaging said plate thereby bringing said'escutcheoninto series with said second terminal;

3. In a flashlight of the'class described, a pair of extensions from the body of said flashlight as terminals of the electric circuit for said flash-- light, one of said terminals being an ofiset from the flashlight body, the other extending from within said body and insulated therefrom, a switch for said flashlight including a conductor plate through which said terminals extend, means insulating said plate from said body and said terminals, an escutcheon mounted on said plate and providing a slide-way therebetween, said escutcheon providing a housing for said terminals and having a slot therein, an arched contact strip shiftable along said slideway, said strip at one end of said slide-way being clear of any contact with the terminals and as shiftable toward said one position engages both terminals and in another position engages one of said. terminals and said plate, and a slide in said slide-way having a portion nested on said arched contact strip and extending through said slot to provide means for shifting said slide and in turn said contact strip along said slide-way.

JOHN G. SCHNEIDER.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of' this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,888,204. Stimson Nov. 15, 1932 1,902,590 Shannon Mar. 21, 1933 1,977,086 Pryor Oct. 16, 1934 2,059,029 Pryor Oct. 2'7, 1936 2,231,660 Carlotti etal. Feb. 11, 1941 2,275,696 Stamps Mar; 10, 1942 

